Selected from the pages of The Middletown Press and lightly annotated by Sally Haase
Brink of Prosperity. Washington, Jan. 01, 1920: The babe of 1920 was born with a silver spoon in its mouth. Never before in the history of the United States has the New Year found such brilliant prospects. Money is most plentiful. The departments of labor reports show little or no unemployment and bread lines and soup kitchens are rare. Wages have been higher. The federal reserve board declares there is “full employment at unprecedented wages.” Trade prospects are brilliant. There is a great demand among foreign buyers for American made goods. People are rushing to buy in spite of high prices.
Raids on “Reds.” Chicago, Jan. 02, 1920: Chicago jails hold between 200 and 250 persons – men and women – -members of the I.W.W. (Industrial Workers of the World) and the so-called “reds” arrested in a series of raids. More than 500 officers aided in rounding up the “reds.” Every headquarters of the I.W.W. and other agitators have been planning for several months to establish a soviet form of government in the United States similar to that of Russia.
Ours Dead Heroes To Come Home Soon. Paris, Jan. 06, 1920: The work of removing the bodies of 20,000 American dead buried in France outside of the battlefield and army zone which has been sanctioned by the French is expected to begin within two months. A number of technical workers are coming from the United States to direct the French civilian laborers who will be employed on the task of disinterring and shipping bodies. The most careful arrangements have been made for checking the bodies so that there will be no mistake in identity.
A Third Term? Washington, Jan. 06, 1920: President Wilson may yet decide to become a third term candidate for the White House…to get the Treaty through. “President Wilson’s refusal to remove himself as a third term candidate is because of the unpatriotic course of foes in his own party and of the republican partisan leaders – all persisting in hanging up the peace treaty in order to get a political issue on Wilson,” said former Senator J. Hamilton Lewis. [Note: The 22nd Amendment limited a president to two terms in 1951.]
Democrats Support The President. Washington, Jan. 07, 1920: “We are behind the president,” Chairman H.S. Cummings repeated with emphasis when the question was put to him as to whether the democratic national committee would take any action with regard to the peace treaty. “His position ought to be well known after he made a tour of the states and spoke very plainly. Still I am amazed at the misinterpretation of the president’s speeches. I am amazed too at the campaign of slander, which has been going on against him. It is one of the most shameful incidents in the history of American politics. If we live a decade we shall see the day when we will all be proud of what he has done,” said Cummings.
Mexicans Kill Two Americans. Washington, Jan. 07, 1920: Gabriel Porter, an American citizen, was shot and killed by a Mexican federal army officer at Tuxpam, Mexico. Mexican newspapers reported that Port had been killed accidentally. The state department was awaiting word from the American embassy as to the action taken by the Carranza government in the latest murder of Americans in Mexico.
DNC Endorses Treaty. Washington, Jan. 09, 1920: By a unanimous vote, the democratic national committee passed a resolution approving the Treaty of Versailles. The resolution declared that it is time for the majority party in the senate to stop playing politics. Through their action, it is said, they were winning the criticism of the nation and the contempt of the world. The resolution commenced with an expression of satisfaction over the steady recovery of President Wilson from his long illness, “largely due to over exertion in his efforts in behalf of worldwide peace.”
Officially At Peace. Paris, Jan. 10, 1920: The allies and Germany are now officially at peace. The plenipotentiaries (delegates – I looked it up.) filed the certificates of ratification of the Treaty of Versailles at Clock Hall ending the world conflict which began in 1914. As the United States senate has not ratified the treaty, Americans did not participate in the ceremonies. The absence of the American envoys who had played such an important role at the opening of the conference, and the lack of pomp and the absence of crowds in the streets outside was in marked contrast with the conditions which had characterized the opening of the parley. 
Still No Ratification. Washington, Jan. 14, 1920: On the eve of the first formal meeting of the League of Nations in Paris, America, the land of the league’s origin, not only stands outside the pale and unable to obtain peace, but her struggles to ratify the treaty of Versailles have landed her a predicament from whence only superlative diplomacy or a jimmy (crowbar) can hope to wrench her. Six months after the start the struggle began over the treaty, the law makers seem very little nearer an agreement than at the start.
So William Jennings Bryan will not get his hope that the United States would be represented on the council. Nevertheless, a new influence is at work in the capitol – public opinion. Stubborn senators are being tipped off one by one, that unless they modify their stand on the treaty, get out of the road to peace and let congress settle down to real business, they will find themselves minus their togas at the first opportunity.
Prohibition January 17th. Washington, Jan. 16, 1920: The lid will go on tight after midnight. The law will be strictly enforced notwithstanding 11th hour pleas. Fearful some might place their hopes on [apple] cider the bureau of internal revenue warned that cider with more than one half of one percent would become an illicit beverage at midnight.
Amendment to Prohibition Offered. Washington, Jan. 22, 1920: An amendment to the Volstead prohibition enforcement laws permitting three percent beer and nine percent wine was proposed in a bill to the house today. Removal of liquor restrictions during influenza epidemics was also requested. Rep. Sabath of Illinois says that many physicians insist liquors are necessary for medical purposes.
Mexicans Plotted To Seize Texas. San Antonio, Tex., Jan. 22, 1920: Senator A.B. Fall publicly accused President Carranza and other officials of the Mexican government with fostering and with furnishing arms and money for an expedition against the United States which had for its object the capture of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Colorado. He asserted it was a plot to bring about a revolt of negroes, capture those states and set up a republic. He said he would prove by witnesses that Mexico was behind the plot, known as the “plan of San Diego,”
Influenza On The Increase. Washington, Jan. 24, 1920: Although reports show an increase in influenza throughout the country, the Surgeon General stated there was no cause for alarm. (In Hartford, a continued increase in Influenza brings the total state cases to date at almost 1,000.)
100 years ago, much has changed and, then again, nothing has changed.
Photos from Advanced Google Images.
